FOLLOWUP: SDOT hits the brakes on West Marginal medians

(Map of where SDOT was considering medians and a raised crossing)

Three weeks ago, we reported that SDOT was proposing landscaped medians in a stretch of West Marginal Way SW and asking for feedback. This afternoon, they say the idea of medians and a raised crossing has been “paused” as a result of what they heard. Here’s the announcement:

After gathering initial feedback on Phase 2 of the West Marginal Way SW Safety Corridor Improvements project, we have decided to pause on moving forward with the proposed median islands. We have decided to wait until after we have completed a post-project evaluation on Phase 1 of the project, which included installing a protected bike lane (PBL) and pavement markings and signs at the Duwamish Trail crossings, to determine what next steps are needed.

We have determined that is important to highlight the trail crossing across SW Front Street (near the Highland Park Way SW intersection) to increase visibility and safety, but we heard concerns about how a raised trail crossing may impact freight movement. Therefore, we are planning to look at other options, like pavement markings or green paint, to delineate the Duwamish Trail.

Next steps:

· Design a non-raised option for the Duwamish Trail crossing on West Marginal Way SW at SW Front St.

· Conduct a project evaluation of the PBL and Duwamish Trail crossing improvements with input from West Marginal Way SW stakeholders, including local businesses, trail and bike lane users, and the freight community.

· Collaborate with stakeholders to determine next steps based on the data findings.

We appreciate all the feedback we have received and will continue to seek input and share information along the way.

32 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: SDOT hits the brakes on West Marginal medians"

  • Eldorado June 28, 2023 (6:07 pm)

    Finally SDOT made the correct decision for a change. 

    • Danimal June 29, 2023 (12:14 am)

      It’s a bit shocking, if you ask me. But I’ll take the win!

    • James June 29, 2023 (9:11 am)

      What? There is nothing good about this. We need narrow lanes and discourage driving in this city for public transit. Not the opposite. 

      • Because we’re Denmark June 29, 2023 (8:20 pm)

        Yeah!  Who are these selfish people with their “cars” and “need to go to work”?! Why don’t they just ride their bikes? Who needs all those tools/equipment? That’s nonsense.  Better yet, just work from home! Everyone can work from home, right? *Padme face* right?

      • Alkibean June 30, 2023 (7:41 am)

        You’re living in a dream world where we all can take the bus and ride our bikes everywhere.  Some of us are physically incapable of riding a bike.  Busses don’t operate on every street.  Metro stripped my neighborhood of bus service. 

  • Jay June 28, 2023 (7:03 pm)

    SDOT’s strategy for Marginal: “KILL ALL PEDESTRIANS, DIE DIE DIE! DO NOT CROSS OR YOU DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!” It’s such an awful road.

    • Danimal June 29, 2023 (12:13 am)

      That’s not true and you know it. And actually, it’s one of the last few remaining “good roads” in Seattle, with minimal pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and long connective distances to cover with limited access. The fact they’ve made this road a 30 mph road is utterly asinine. 

      • DC June 29, 2023 (11:08 am)

        You are proving their point, not countering it… A good road is one without pedestrians and cyclists? You want more deadly fast speeds? You clearly don’t care about the life/death safety of pedestrians. 

      • Jay June 29, 2023 (11:24 am)

        It’s got limited pedestrian traffic and cycling traffic because it’s an awful road. It even splits the trailheads for two parks with no crossing. There are so many potentially good things along Marginal such as the Longhouse, Herring’s House Park, the greenbelt trails, etc., but the hazard of walking or biking there or even pulling in and out of the high speed stroad or turning around to access the other side discourage people from visiting this area. It’s a scar on West Seattle.

        • Zohan June 30, 2023 (12:51 am)

          Are you kidding me? It’s a road surrounded by heavy industry, rail, marinas. Materials and goods have to be shipped somehow. There’s already a protected bike lane on the east side of the road. I bike that trail when I don’t want to deal with congestion on Alki.

  • M June 28, 2023 (7:10 pm)

    BOOOOOOOOOOO!!

    • Danimal June 29, 2023 (12:13 am)

      No, YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!

  • Erik June 28, 2023 (7:40 pm)

    Thank goodness! I received the email in reply to my response asking them not to put medians in. I’m happy that they are looking at less intrusive ways to improve pedestrian and bike safety. Adding medians would create additional obstacles and distraction that could lead to more accidents.

    • DC June 29, 2023 (11:05 am)

      LOL, if medians cause you distraction you should not be driving! Same if you’re not able to stay in your lane and worry about hitting the ‘obstacle.’

  • Kyle June 28, 2023 (7:46 pm)

    Unmaintained tree medians would have been a poor design choice to make the bike route safer. Would have been costly for a department that already can’t maintain what it has. This seems practical and they should focus on the safety features they propose in the statement.

  • Alki resident June 28, 2023 (9:31 pm)

    Thank goodness. We need no more distractions on this road. Leave it alone, we’re doing just fine getting back and forth without SDOT screwing things up. 

  • GW June 28, 2023 (9:41 pm)

    Good call. I have no faith the landscaped medians would actually be maintained enough to be an improvement for anyone. 

  • bill June 28, 2023 (10:09 pm)

    Drivers pout, throw tantrum, safety gets thrown under the bus.

    • SpencerGT June 29, 2023 (2:53 am)

      Safety?

    • WestSeattleBadTakes June 29, 2023 (7:03 am)

      All for two seconds returned to their miserable lives.

    • Alki resident June 29, 2023 (8:08 am)

      Drivers used common sense and said nay to this stupid idea. 

    • Zohan June 30, 2023 (12:54 am)

      How? The road has clear sight lines bikes have a protected separate lane of travel. I like biking there. Goal should be moving people as fast and safely as possible. You can do both at the same time.

  • Rhonda June 29, 2023 (3:00 am)

    Wow. SDOT does something right for a change. I think I’ll mark this momentous occasion on my calendar.

  • James June 29, 2023 (9:10 am)

    Awful. Car drivers are wrecking this city for us cyclists. I am tired of it. We are a city, not the ‘burbs.

    • Zohan June 30, 2023 (12:55 am)

      Really? How do you think people with families get around, to school, sports, shopping. I cannot get a family of five around via bike.

  • snowskier June 29, 2023 (10:42 am)

    Good job SDOT.  The bike route follows a protected bike lane to a fully signaled crossing that jointly serves the Duwamish Longhouse to a grade separated path.  I think they’ve covered safe transport on wheels and feet. 

  • Leslie June 29, 2023 (1:51 pm)

    Curious about the maintenance schedule for medians on Delridge – lovely plants but now a BUNCH of dandelions and other invasive weeds……What is the schedule for weeding/eradication  of noxious weeds which will only multiply and crowd out the lovely plantings if not pulled.  ,  .Any community help/work parties contemplated?  And how will safety be handled?TIA 

    • Rob June 29, 2023 (8:57 pm)

      You nailed it

    • Zohan June 30, 2023 (12:59 am)

      Amen! It’s illogical. It’s a main arterial road. What happens if fire/medics need to get through during rush hour?SDOT budget is maxed out – this is creating more maintenance cost. Tree roots may crack pavement in the future. 

  • Alkiholic June 29, 2023 (3:24 pm)

    In over 10 years, there was one accident involving a bike or pedestrian.  There are other priorities.

  • Todd June 30, 2023 (12:58 pm)

    So happy to hear they’re going to leave it alone! The decision to possibly make changes down there was about as insane as trying to make Highland Park Way one lane in each direction with a bike lane (for the 4 people that ride that hill). There are plenty of other protected areas for pedestrians and bikes that are not industrial.  Being the only road that still moves in WS Seattle I hope they continue to leave it alone. As I said before, if you like unnecessary newly added stop signs, 25-mile-an-hour speed limits, roads closed so people could play in them, speed bumps, one-lane roads where bike traffic, garbage trucks, and buses stop the entire line of cars then you can drive, bike and walk anywhere else in West Seattle.  Driving in West Seattle has been destroyed. Please leave Marginal alone. 45 mile-an-hour speed limit was plenty for down there 35 mph is not reasonable for an industrial Street.

  • STU HENNESSEY July 12, 2023 (12:57 pm)

    Does anyone know what a raised crossing looks like?  We have two of them in the Junction on California Ave.  The design just makes it clear that there is a lane of traffic crossing.  The need for this design is probably not necessary at this low traffic crossing but it is a valuable tool in other areas. Since W Marginal Way is too wide for the amount of traffic, continuing the two way cycle path to Highland Park Way makes the most sense with the least cost. Riding the Duwamish Path past numerous industrial egresses and winding around to secluded parts of the path is not going to inspire a feeling of safety or inclusion in the traffic system.

Sorry, comment time is over.